Josh Sargent, newly committed to Bundesliga club Werder Bremen, leads coach John Hackworth’s 21 player squad set to contest the U17 World Cup beginning next month in India.

Sargent (ISI Photos/Casey Brook Lawson)

Sargent and Hackworth led an exciting U.S. team to a second place finish behind Mexico in the CONCACAF Championships this spring with the Young Yanks falling on penalty kicks in the final and while the flame-haired Sargent earned most of the plaudits, several Americans stood out with goalkeeper Justin Garces taking home the Golden Glove as one of five Americans to earn a place on the tournament’s Best 11. Garces was joined by Sargent, fullback Jaylin Lindsey, central defender James Sands, and midfielder Chris Durkin.

Forwards Andrew Carleton and Tim Weah also caught the eye at the regional championship and scouts will no doubt be watching that pair among others this October when the world’s top youth prospects get together in India.

FIFA has released the finalists for the organization’s new “Best” list, the soccer governing bodies awards for the top players, coaches, goal, etc.

Last year FIFA separated its honors from the Ballon d’Or and below is the complete list.

Any list of this nature is bound to raise hackles with everyone having their favorites but this year, as is often the case, the finalists in the women’s category lead the way in terms of head-scratchers.

Lieke Martens (R ) in action for Netherlands. (Getty Images)

With no World Cup or Olympics to contest the one major tournament for voters to weigh in the voting time frame was the Women’s Euro, so it makes sense then that Lieke Martens who earned the Golden Ball as player of the tournament while leading the Netherlands to the title would be one of the final three.

Sarina Wiegman, who coached the Orange to victory was also nominated, again, understandably. It is the other two nominees for Women’s Best, however, that lead to the head-scratching.

Lloyd was unstoppable at the FIFA 2015 WWC.. (ISI Photos/John Todd)

Carli Lloyd has been acknowledged as the world’s greatest female player two years running but frankly her spot on the 10 player shortlist that preceded this final three was a bit of a surprise.

Despite maintaining its place at the top of the FIFA rankings Lloyd’s U.S. team has endured a poor year, with Lloyd’s form somewhat inconsistent. Lloyd did raise the profile of the women’s sport significantly with her short-term move to Manchester City, but Lloyd played just six games for the team while on hiatus from the Houston Dash, her NWSL club.

Deyna Castellans has pushed her way past many series contenders. (Courtesy of Twitter)

The third nominee is 18-year-old Deyna Castellanos, the Venezuelan star who apparently parlayed her Golden Boot performance at the 2016 U17 Women’s World Cup into this nomination. Castellanos plays for Florida State and lower league United Women’s Soccer league club Santa Clarita Blue Heat, where she was named Player of the Year.

Castellanos is also up for the Puskas Award for goal of the year, men or women’s, and has somehow pushed past the likes of Australia’s Sam Kerr who has wowed for Sky Blue FC and Euro stars such as Lucy Bronze (England/Manchester) City, Pernille Harder (Denmark/VfL Wolfsburg), Dzsenifer Marozsan (Germany/ Olympique Lyonnais), Vivianne Miedema (Netherlands/ FC Bayern Munich), Wendie Renard (France/Olympique Lyonnais), Jodie Taylor (England/Arsenal Women).

The U.S. WNT cruised to a 5-0 win over New Zealand, closing out a feel good two game set against the Football Ferns following Friday’s 3-1 win in Colorado.

Pugh and Morgan put in fine performances(ISI Photos/Brad Smith)

In front of a crowd of 30,000 plus the Americans dominated from the opening whistle, with the game’s biggest surprise being that New Zealand managed to keep the home team off the scoreboard for 36 minutes.

Lindsey Horan broke the deadlock just three minutes after replacing local girl Rose Lavelle, who was on a minutes limit after recovering from a hamstring injury. That goal kick started an excellent night for Horan in an attacking midfield role.

A brief flurry from New Zealand around the half hour mark threatened to disturb the U.S. hegemony but with Mewis and Ertz dominating the center of the park and O’Hara and Rapinoe flying on the wings it was inevitable when Horan’s header beat a poorly positioned Erin Nayler in the New Zealand goal.

Goals on either side of the half by Mallory Pugh, 44th minute from Horan and halftime sub Alex Morgan, 30 seconds after the restart, ended any hopes New Zealand may have harbored for an upset.

U.S. coach Jill Ellis used every player available with the exception of reserve goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris. The changes did nothing to slow the U.S. down with Morgan standing out as she maintained her recent top form for club and country.

Heath returned to the squad after a long absence. (ISI Photos/Brad Smith)

Tobin Heath returned to action, ending a long injury absence when she replaced Mallory Pugh in the 72nd minute, a positive for anyone who enjoys the game of soccer while Lynn Williams and a second Morgan goal closed out the scoring for the dominant Americans sending the Cincinnati crowd home home happy.

Ellis will be happy too, in particular one would think with several performances. Ertz was a powerful presence in the middle of the field and paired with the equally impressive Mewis, Ellis may have found her central midfield going forward – keeping in mind that France 2019 is still a long way off.

The U.S. handed New Zealand a 3-1 loss Friday night in Colorado behind a pair of goals from versatile Julie Ertz and one from rejuvenated striker Alex Morgan. With no World Cup or Olympics to prepare for this year coach Jill Ellis has experimented frequently in 2017, often with poor results.

Ellis has shrugged off disappointing results but with France 2019 still some way off the coach is carefully cataloging the ups and down, so here a few notes from Friday night.

Sometimes the Answer is Right Under Your Nose

Ever since defensive midfielder Shannon Boxx slowed down and eventually retired the U.S. WNT, under three coaches, has struggled to find a replacement, shoehorning attack-minded players from Lauren Holiday to Morgan Brian, to Allie Long, and Lindsey Horan into an ill-suited role.

That awkward fit was often overcome by the sheer talent of the individuals and the team, particularly in Holiday’s case at the 2015 World Cup. The results have been less impressive of late causing Ellis to make the curious move of disrupting her defense to install Becky Sauerbrunn at d-mid when a much better option was right there under her nose.

Julie Ertz has been excellent as a holding midfielder. (ISI Photos/Brad Smith)

As Julie Johnson, Julie Ertz starred alongside Sauerbrunn at the 2015 Cup in central defense but by any name, the Chicago Red Star player was starring at the defensive mid spot for her club and it was no surprise when Ertz shone when finally entrusted with the job during the Tournament of Nations.

We were hoping to see Ertz in that position from the start versus New Zealand and since GotSoccer would never to say we told you so…

2) Is Morgan Back?

Now 28 years old the one-time “Wondergirl” of U.S. Soccer had most of us wondering if she would ever recapture the unstoppable aura that had once surrounded her.

Injury after injury plus the rise of younger options made Morgan’s hold on her position at the top of the U.S attack appear increasingly tenuous but Morgan has responded.

Morgan seems to be benefiting from her club play. (ISI Photos/Jamie Schwaberow)

Good health and a productive working relationship with Brazilian legend Marta with the Orlando Pride sent Morgan into the New Zealand doubleheader on a high and “Baby Horse” kept her momentum with a goal on Friday against the Football Ferns.

So, is Morgan back? It may be slightly premature to say that, but if she is, that is another problem solved for Ellis.

3) 1 and 100

On a night when Kelley O’Hara captained the side on the occasion of her 100th U.S. WNT camp, Sophia Huerta made her first appearance with the Yanks after her change of national association was approved by FIFA.

An attacker who operates up front or out wide for the Chicago Red Stars, Huerta subbed in for fullback when Taylor Smith picked up a knock on Friday night and contributed an assist on Morgan’s goal.

O’Hara celebrated her 100th cap with skippering her team to a well deserved victory. (ISI Photos/Brad Smith)

O’Hara has shown similar versatility over the years, starring at Stanford as a striker before going on to play anywhere from fullback to forward at the club level. After playing a lot of wide midfield with the national team, O’Hara has established herself as the starting right fullback under Ellis, although she still gets the occasional run further up the pitch.

It has been a great career for O’Hara, one that has plenty of life still while Huerta’s time with the U.S. WNT is just beginning after a youthful fling with Mexico.

If you care about the U.S. MNT you probably have heard it by now, Alexi Lalas’ Rant. You may well have said, “you know what he’s right, or maybe you think he went too far. So, let’s have a look at what the former U.S. defender said, and whether it was true or right, or just plain nuts.

Lalas made his feelings about the failures of the USMNT clear. (ISI Photos/Brad Smith)

Lalas spoke at halftime of the 1-1 draw between the Seattle Sounders and the LA Galaxy Sunday night on Fox Sports 1. Here it is in all its naked glory:

“It’s dark days, indeed, but this is a time for leaders to step up. And so to the supposed leaders, I will say this. All right, Tim Howard. Tim, the Belgium game ended three years ago. We need you to save the ball now. Geoff Cameron, clean it up or let’s get someone who will. Clint Dempsey, you’re a national team legend; now we need you to be a national team leader. Michael Bradley, the U.S. does not need you to be Zen, the U.S. needs you to play better. Jozy Altidore, is this really as good as it gets? Because it’s still not good enough.”

“Bruce Arena. Bruce, Jurgen Klinsmann lost at home to Mexico. You lost at home to Costa Rica, This is now all on you, not Jurgen. And, oh, by the way, to all the guys that I didn’t mention, it’s because you don’t even warrant a mention. That includes you too, Wonder Boy. So, what are you guys going to do? Are you going to continue to be a bunch of soft, underperforming, tattooed millionaires? You are a soccer generation that has been given everything; you are a soccer generation who’s on the verge of squandering everything. So, now it’s time to pay it back. Make us believe again. You don’t owe it to yourselves, you owe it to us. And … get off my lawn.”

Colorful stuff, and keep in mind that Lalas has been plain in stating that part of his job is to entertain. He certainly hit the mark there, but what of the substance. The most interesting part of the diatribe, for me, was Lalas’ contention that this group has “been given everything.”

Lalas played for the national team from 1991-1998, he played in played in one World Cup, 1994, and was on the roster but did not see action in 1998. It is not much of a leap to say then that Lalas, who had yet to play for a professional club before the 1994 World Cup, was not part of a generation to which everything was given. In fact, he may feel, with some justification, that he is among those who have given the current group, “everything.”

And with two games remaining in the HEX- the final round of World Cup Qualifying play- the U.S. could squander a chance to get to the World Cup. Of course, they could beat Panama in Orlando and win at Trinidad and Tobago and then it is on to Russia.

Much of the attention around Lalas’ rant came because he named names. Lalas singled out the leaders on the team, accusing Tim Howard of living off past glories, Michael Bradley of lacking passion and Bruce Arena of blaming his woes on his predecessor.

Jozy Altidore was called out as “not good enough.” Altidore’s numbers are in fact pretty good. The Toronto FC striker is third in U.S. MNT goals behind icons Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey. If Lalas wanted to call Altidore out, he should have targeted the striker’s immature behavior that led to a yellow card versus Costa Rica and forced Altidore to miss the Honduras match.

Dempsey’s leadership qualities were questioned by Lalas, and it is true that Dempsey has never fit the traditional leader profile, Deuce has always seemed more of a solo artist. Klinsmann sought to bring out Dempsey’s inner leader by making him captain, a job the coach eventually took away and handed to Michael Bradley, accused of being too zen by Lalas.

One can only assume that Lalas wants to see more emotion from the captain, although Lalas said that Bradley needed to “play better.” Is playing poorly a zen thing? Bradley was quiet against Honduras but he played well in a losing effort against the Ticos and if Lalas is speaking in general terms I think he is barking up the wrong tree. Bradley is far and away the best option in the center of the field for the U.S. despite the constant clamor of those who do not appreciate Altidore’s TFC teammate.

As coach, Arena has the least cover among Lalas’ targets. Arena took over a team in a deep hole, helped the U.S. climb out of that hole but then, as Lalas said, Arena, “lost at home to Costa Rica.”

A home win over Panama would absolve Arena of that sin, and paired with a road victory over last place T&T, the Yanks would not only have climbed back out of that ditch, they would have clambered all the way to Russia.

Whatever value there may have been in Lalas’ remarks though, was squandered by his gratuitous, pointless, and inaccurate jab at Christian Pulisic. “Wonderboy.” Really, Alexi? What has Pulisic done since arriving on the national team but put his head down and work his ass off?

Christian Pulisic recent performances for the U.S. were nothing to write home about. (ISI Photos/Michael Janosz)

Was Pulisic great for the U.S. in the recent two game set? No, he was ok. But the soon to be 19 year old worked hard for all 180 minutes, even if the Dortmund attacker occasionally showed some frustration.

Did Lalas make some sense? Sure, although I don’t know what the tats have to do with anything. In the end, these are all grown men and professional athletes. Howard needs to save that first goal against Costa Rica, Dempsey needs to score some goals. Arena needs to win games. They know this and while Lalas’ words might piss them off they won’t melt.

Jill Ellis has named a 22 player squad to face off against the Lady Ferns of New Zealand in a pair of friendlies on September 15, at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado and September 19, at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio.

The matches are the first for the U.S. since the team’s second place finish at the inaugural Tournament of Nations, where the Americans finished second.

The U.S. lost to Australia for the first time in their history.. (ISI Photos/Al Sermeno)

The U.S. began the event on a bad note, losing for the first time to Australia. When the Yanks fell behind Brazil 3-1 it looked bleak for the host nation. The U.S. stormed back to beat Brazil 4-3 and went on to dominate Japan 3-0 to end the tournament on an up note.

But coming on the heels of an embarrassing last place finish in the SheBelieves Cup in March Jill Ellis’ odd lineup choices raised some eyebrows.

The most glaring was playing Becky Sauerbrunn at defensive midfield. The co-captain looked out of sorts when played there and with Julie (Johnson) Ertz available and operating successfully at that position for the Chicago Red Stars, Ellis’ experiment seemed senseless.

Ertz eventually got her shot in front of the back four and was excellent. Good enough, one would think to get an extended run at the position. With Ashlyn Harris unavailable through injury, Ellis played Alyssa Naeher exclusively in the goal. Naeher had some shaky moments and with two other keepers on the roster, it was surprising that neither got a look.

Heath and Brian return to the squad. (ISI Photos/Brad Smith)

Harris is back and should provide needed competition at the goalkeeper position. Also returning from injury are Tobin Heath, Morgan Brian, and Rose Lavelle. Megan Rapinoe played at the TON and was perhaps the best U.S. player but Rapinoe subsequently picked up an injury and missed time with the Seattle Reign. good news for Ellis is that Pinoe will be available for selection to face New Zealand.

Harrison, N.J. – “I thought they outplayed us and outcoached us,” is how U.S. MNT coach Bruce Arena put it after his team lost 2-0 to Costa Rica, and it was hard to disagree.

With that in mind here are a few thoughts on the game.

1) Start Dempsey in the Big Games

Dempsey as a super sub was the big takeaway from the summer’s Gold Cup and it makes sense. However, Arena said at the time that he would use the veteran from the start or off of the bench going forward, depending on the circumstances.

Dempsey came on in the 65th minute. (ISI Photos/Howard C Smith)

It is easy to say in hindsight but in a game of this magnitude and against Costa Rica, the best team in CONCACAF the past few years, more Dempsey, not less, was required.

As it was Deuce had the Ticos airtight defense scrambling once he entered the fray in the 65th minute. Dempsey is still the player who scores the big goals for the U.S. He might have done it Friday night if he had been allotted 65 minutes, not 35.

2) Real Madrid Goalkeeper Outplayed the Colorado Rapids Netminder

This is not to bury Tim Howard, an American soccer legend but legend or not, Howard should never have been beaten on the opening goal and although not to blame for the second, a big save there would have kept U.S. hopes alive.

Keylor Navas was solid for Costa Rica. (ISI Photos/John Todd)

As for Keylor Navas, the Madrista keeper showed why he was recently nominated for the FIFA BEST award with a pair of second half saves that were just part of his overall outstanding performance.

The first came off of a deflected Christian Pulisic shot in the 67th minute. Navas somehow got a hand and a foot to the Pulisic effort, which came from a Dempsey free kick and looked a certain goal.

Then in the 81st minute, Geoff Cameron’s lovely chipped pass found Altidore behind the Ticos largely impenetrable defense only to see the Toronto striker rebuffed by Navas.

One minute later Cameron’s careless pass out of the back was picked off and Howard was unable to provide the heroics to deny San Jose Earthquakes striker Marco Urena his, and his team’s second goal.

3) Don’t Blame the Venue

There was plenty of chatter during and after the match that the U.S. had erred in playing this game at Red Bull Arena. Too many Costa Rican fans turned this game into a virtual home game for the visitors, went the argument.

And the sights and sound in the latter stages of Friday’s match lent credence to that viewpoint. The first 29 minutes plus, however, told a different story.

U.S. fans during the match against Costa Rica. (ISI Photos/Howard C Smith)

Before Urena scored the game’s first goal in the 30th minute, Red Bull Arena was loudly, proudly pro USA! USA! USA! The American Outlaws supporters group was making a racket and with the Yanks dominating possession the New Jersey stadium was playing very much like a home game.

If the U.S. had converted one of several chances in that opening half an hour then Taylor Twellman would have had no complaints about the crowd.

4) Jozy, Jozy, Jozy?!

After the match, U.S. striker Jozy Altidore expressed his dismay at the yellow card he was presented with late in the match, a caution that will force Altidore to miss Tuesday’s crucial match in Honduras.

Altidore has only himself to blame for his suspension. (ISI Photos/Howard C Smith)

He should have saved his breath. In the 80th minute incident, Altidore rushed at Johan Venegas after the whistle only to see the Minnesota United midfielder crumble to the ground at Altidore’s slight touch. What did Altidore expect? The veteran U.S. international should have known better and has only himself to blame.

The U.S. is fortunate that Clint Dempsey’s late elbow didn’t connect with a Costa Rica defender in added time or Arena could have been down another attacker against Honduras on Tuesday.

Bruce Arena was advertised as the pair of safe hands needed to dig the U.S. MNT out of the 0-2 hole dug for it by his predecessor Jurgen Klinsmann and while Arena surprised with a successful three back formation in a crucial 1-1 draw with Mexico, the coach has been much as promised.

Arena has selected a strong team. (ISI Photos/Tony Quinn)

Compiling a 2-0-2 in World Cup Qualifying play Arena has followed the script of winning at home and looking to tie on the road. The 26 player roster selected by Arena for a pair of WCQ, Friday in New Jersey and next Tuesday in San Pedro Sula, Honduras hews to that same conservative template.

The plan has been effective and if the Americans can defeat Costa Rica, no easy task, at Red Bull Arena, Friday evening at 6:30, then the U.S. MNT will head to Trinidad with visions of Russia 2018 dancing in their heads.

Arena was unable to call in his best fullback DeAndre Yedlin, the Newcastle speedster picked up a poorly timed hamstring injury. Arena then declined to issue an invitation to Tim Chandler the 27-year-old Eintracht Frankfurt defender who has mysteriously never been able to duplicate his Bundesliga form for the U.S.A.

Instead, Arena has called in Graham Zusi, a recent convert to the position from midfield and Eric Lichaj, who has been unable to claim a starting position for Nottingham Forest this season after winning the club Player of the Year honors in 2016-17.

Bruce 2.0 also kept faith with one of his originals, DaMarcus Beasley, selecting the 35-year-old Houston Dynamo defender, who now seems to have a real chance of playing in a fifth World Cup. You have to wonder if Landon Donovan is somewhere looking for his boots!

It will be interesting to see who starts against Costa Rica. (ISI Photos/John Dorton)

With 26 players to choose from Arena is likely planning to rotate his lineup for the two matches, so look for Clint Dempsey to start versus Costa Rica and if things go well, expect Deuce to be held in reserve in Honduras.

MLS Rivalry Week kicked off Wednesday night, with one of the promoted rivalries tucked in amongst six regular matchups.

So, let’s start with the first of the six., making this week’s MLS Big – 5 the Big – 6. Home teams listed first.

FC Dallas 3-3 vs Houston Dynamo

Houston has been one of the surprise teams in the league this season, sitting as they do in fourth place in the West, one spot above the supposed shining example of all that is right on MLS, FC Dallas.

Houston have been the surprise team this season. (ISI Photos/Jeremy Olson)

Dallas is often praised for its academy system, and rightly so, but for all their regular season and U.S. Cup success under coach Oscar Pareja and architect Fernando Calvillo Dallas has yet to raise the one cup that truly matters in this league the MLS Cup.

But back to last night. Houston jumped out to a 1-0 lead after less than a minute on a Vicente Sanchez opener. Erick Torres picked up the assist, and the Mexican international was just getting started.

Playing in front of just 13,339 at Dallas’ home park in Frisco, Texas Dallas roared back with three goals in a six-minute span on either side of halftime.

Tesho Akindele leveled in the 45th minute, followed by Maynor Figueroa’s go ahead goal in first half stoppage time.

The Dynamo looked to be reeling when Maxi Uritti added a third Dallas score in the 51st minute but this Houston team is made of sterner stuff and led by Torres the Dynamo refused to roll over.

Torres struck in the 71st and 86th minutes to complete his brace and a remarkable comeback for Houston.

2) NY! NY!

The announcement from New York City FC that the club’s September 23rd match versus the Houston Dynamo would not be played at Yankee Stadium and would instead be moved to Rentschler Field in East Hartford has largely eclipsed Friday’s showdown with the New York Red Bulls.

NYC FC game has to be moved to East Hartford. (ISI Photos/Mike Lawrence)

The move has come about because Yankee Stadium’s prime tenant the, em, New York Yankees have to make up a rain delayed match on that date. This was a conflict that was bound to happen at some point but the franchises complete lack of progress on finding a permanent home within the five boroughs of New York City, as long promised, has pushed the stadium issue front and center for frustrated NYCFC fans and jubilant Red Bulls fans alike.

The effect has been that instead of talking about the chance of a first ever NYCFC sweep of the season series, we are left wondering whether New York City FC will ever find a home of its own in the city that bears its name.

3) Rocky Mountain Time

Saturday’s only Rivalry match is the Rocky Mountain Cup Showdown between Real Salt Lake and the Colorado Rapids with Salt Lake playing host.

The home side will want to keep up the momentum from Wednesday night’s home win over San Jose, a 4-0 shellacking sparked by Albert Rusnak’s one goal and two assist night.

Pablo Mastroeni was the casualty of his team’s poor performance. (ISI Photos/Robin Alam)

Colorado is still adjusting to the firing of coach Pablo Mastroeni and the implementation on the fly of a new, more offensive minded style under interim coach Steve Cooke.

There is also a new general manager on board in Padraig Smith so it is a new broom for the Rapids. The playoffs are out of reach for the Raps but RSL remains in the hunt, two places and three points below the playoff line, so look for a motivated Salt Lake to come away with the win.

4) Cascadia Time

There will be much to play for when the 2015 MLS Champion Portland Timbers travel to Seattle to face the 2016 title winning Sounders on Sunday in front of what is expected to be a huge and raucous crowd.

First place in the West for one. The home side holds the top spot in the West with 41 points, just one better than the Timbers, but both teams are feeling good about themselves ahead of his showdown.

Dempsey is peaking at the right time. (ISI Photos/Michael Janosz)

Seattle is riding a 10 game unbeaten streak and with the playoffs approaching Clint Dempsey is heating up at just the right time.

Portland is coming off of back to back home wins over New York Red Bulls (2-0) and lowly Colorado (2-1) and are playing well with Diego Valeri leading the way. Valeri’s goal versus the Rapids was his 52nd for the TImbers, a Portland record. It was also the fifth consecutive game in which the talented Argentine hit the target, another Portland record.

Valeri’s heroics come with a bit of a downside- transfer rumors. It is still at the rumor stage but Valerie will be expected to be a professional while the rumors swirl.

The same cannot be said of Seattle fullback Joevin Jones, who earlier signed a pre-contract offer to join Bundesliga 2 side Darmstadt after the MLS season. No problem there, but the Sounders do have a problem with Jones’ decision to go AWOL following the club’s win over Minnesota last week.

Jones left to join up with the Trinidad and Tobago national team but he left early and without permission, missing Wednesday’s match versus Vancouver.

5) Canada Derby

Two hot teams get together in Montreal on Sunday with the Impact on a four match win streak while Toronto has won three straight and are clearly the best team in the league.

Ignacio Piatti has helped lead his team to a playoff position. (ISI Photos/Robin Alam)

Montreal has put itself in playoff position with their hot streak behind Ignacio Piatti’s big season and with the addition of Swiss midfielder Blerim Dzemali on loan from Italian side Bologna.

TFC is of course led by Sebastian Giovinco and U.S. stars Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore and the team is chasing the MLS points record. To get that record Toronto will have to deal with Montreal. Three of TFC’s remaining eight matches are against its nearest rivals.

6) Clasico?

When is a Clasico not a Clasico?

Maybe this Sunday when the dreadful 9th place(!) Galaxy host the playoff chasing San Jose Earthquakes.

Both teams are coming off of demoralizing losses, the Galaxy 2-0 at Columbus while the Quakes were hammered 4-0 in Salt Lake City.

To be fair to San Jose they are in the playoff hunt under new boss Chris Leitch, just two points out of the final post-season spot and only three out of fifth.

Chris Wondolowski (ISI Photos/Celso Bayo)

The Quakes still rely heavily on Chris Wondolowski who leads the club in both goals with 10 and assists with five.

The problem with this low wattage Clasico is the Galaxy. New coach Sigi Schmid figures to get this turned around but it won’t be this year.

The Bundesliga is back and that means one thing and one thing only for the American soccer fan- it’s Puli-time!

Christian Pulisic in action for the U.S. (ISI Photos/Michael Janosz)

Yes, Christian Pulisic is back playing with Borussia Dortmund, so how did he do in week one? Pretty well, thanks. The 18-year-old, he turns 19 on September 19, scored Dortmund’s first Bundesliga goal of the campaign and then capped his afternoon by putting the ball on a platter for Pierre Emerick Aubameyang to set the 3-0 final score at Wolfsburg before departing to enthusiastic applause from Dortmund’s traveling fans.

It was an auspicious start for the young man from Hershey, Pennsylvania and one that his Dortmund side badly needed, given a glut of injuries, along with the slow moving Ousmane Dembele defection to Barcelona.

When Peter Bosz moved over from Ajax to replace Thomas Tuchel, the manager who gave Pulisic his start, there was some concern that the U.S. MNT’s most important player might see his role with the Black and Yellows diminish, instead necessity may increase Pulisic’s stature within the BVB universe.

Marco Reus (R) is out for a lengthy period. (ISI Photos/Osnapix)

German internationals Marco Reus and Andre Schurrle lead a lengthy injury list, 20-year-old rising star Ousmane Dembele is suspended indefinitely as his push to join Barca drags on and recent reports indicate that Aubameyang could be on the move before the transfer window finally slams shut at month’s end.

It seems like a lot to put on a young American but we have seen Pulisic accelerate his timetable with the U.S. Men’s National Team, moving quickly from promising youngster to the team’s best player, so it would be unwise to bet against the skilled attacker.

Pulisic met 2017-18 head on with a goal in a 2-2 draw versus German giants Bayern Munich in the German Super Cup on August 5, Bayern won on penalty kicks.

So perhaps we should have seen Saturday’s performance in Dortmund’s Bundesliga opener coming. And maybe we should brace ourselves for the pending arrival of America’s first genuine international soccer star.

To reach that lofty status Pulisic will need to continue the progress he made last season, his first full season in the Bundesliga. Playing almost exclusively as a winger at BVB Pulisic has already made the transition to a central attacking and playmaking role with the national team.

Pulisic looks to continue playing wide. (ISI Photos/Pixathlon)

Odds are that Pulisic will remain a wide threat for Dortmund, although one who likes to cut in on goal, though an Aubameyang move could change that.

With a pair of World Cup Qualifiers coming up on September 1st and 5th versus Costa Rica, at Red Bull Arena, in Harrison, New Jersey, and Honduras, in Honduras, the U.S. will be looking to Pulisic to lead them.

And while he remains in a supporting role for now at Dortmund, it is beginning to look like Puli-time could be coming to the Bundesliga ahead of schedule.

FIFA has released the shortlists for both the men’s and women’s Player of the Year Awards, the first since the sport’s governing body separated its award from the Ballon d’Or.

Carli Lloyd once again got shortlisted for the FIFA Player of the year. (ISI Photos/Brad Smith)

The big news from a U.S. point of view is that just one American woman has made the top 10. Not big news is the identity of the American standard bearer, two time defending Women’s Player of the Year Carli Lloyd.

Potential U.S. nominees were hindered by the lack of an official FIFA competition held during the time being considered- November 26, 2016, through August 6, 2017- while their European counterparts benefitted from exposure gained at the highly competitive 2017 Euro, won by the Netherlands.

Of course, finishing last in one four team tournament hosted on home soil and second in the other, did little to advance the Americans cause.

Consisting of 24 names the men’s shortlist was considerably longer than the 10 player women’s list and also includes the 2017 winner Cristiano Ronaldo, as well as his long time nemesis Lionel Messi. The time frame for the judges to consider in the men’s race runs from November 20, 2016, through July 2, 2017.

Ronaldo is favored to add another bauble to his impressive collection, if not Messi is always a likely winner. But what if the judges go in a different direction? Will a defender be considered? Or perhaps one of the Bundesliga goalscoring aces, Robert Lewandowski or Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang?

N’Golo Kante’s contribution to the 2016-17 Premier League title run by Chelsea and Leicester’s Cinderella title the previous season were acknowledged when the defensive midfielder won this year’s PFA Players’ Player of the Year and FWA Footballer of the Year honors.

Lloyd faces an uphill battle in her quest to three-peat, although her successful stint with Manchester City could earn her some votes.

But Lloyd is up against an impressive range of talented European stars who shone in the cauldron of the best women’s Confederation tournament while Lloyd and the U.S. WNT struggled in what is acknowledged as a quiet year for the Yanks with no World Cup or Olympic challenges.

Club versus country is another component at play as the judges consider their votes, with Australia’s Sam Kerr a very strong candidate if her play for Sky Blue FC in the NWSL is given enough weight. Kerr was also superb in the Tournament of Nations, although shining in that friendly tournament doesn’t stand out on the resume quite so much as the career burnishing accomplishments of all but one other candidate on this list who starred at the Euros.

That outlier is 18-year-old Venezuelan Deyna Castellanos, and her inclusion has to be considered a shocker, given that she plays her club soccer for the Santa Clara Blue Heat, a team in the United Women’s Soccer league. The UWS only began play in May 2016, so the Venezuelan must have turned a lot of heads with her Golden Boot winning performance at the 2016 U17 Women’s World Cup.

49 stadiums in 44 cities are on the list of potential World Cup host cities released today by the 2026 United Bid Committee. The U.S. will host 60 of the 80 games, so it is no surprise that American cities and stadia dominate the list with 44 cities and 49 facilities appearing on this initial list.

Canada has submitted nine stadiums from seven municipalities while Mexico has proposed just three stadiums from three cities

Although FIFA rules stipulate that stadiums must hold at least 40,000 to host group stage matches and 80,000 to be considered for the World Cup opener or final, several stadiums fall short of the 40,000 threshold.

This will be the first World Cup to field 48 nations, up from 32, so there may well be some less attractive games, making the smaller capacity stadiums attractive, making a FIFA exception or rule change possible.

Unfortunately, injuries to Megan Rapinoe and Carli Lloyd top this week’s NWSL Roundup. Seattle Reign winger Rapinoe has already undergone arthroscopic surgery on her knee and the league’s leading goal scorer will miss five weeks, while Lloyd injured her ankle in Houston’s 1-0 loss to FC Kansas City.

Let’s go back to last Tuesday and this week’s big winners, Orlando, who started the week with an impressive 3-0 win over the struggling Spirit. The Pride got a goal each from Marta and Alex Morgan sandwiched around one from Camila, all in a 12-minute stretch started with Marta’s 52nd-minute goal on a Morgan assist.

Tuesday’s victory was a nice appetizer for the Pride’s main course, Saturday’s 5-0 demolition of Sky Blue, a victory that moved Tom Sermanni’s side into the fourth and final NWSL playoff position.

The back to back victories also saw the rise of the M&M Women, Marta and Morgan. The duo each contributed a brace versus Sky Blue with Marta setting up Morgan’s fourth-minute opener while Morgan returned the favor by adding a helper on Marta second goal of the match.

With that pair leading from the front Orlando will be hard to beat and goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris has returned from injury to strengthen the Pride defense.

Saturday’s game was the last for Maddy Evans, a 26-year-old midfielder, who announced her retirement from the sport earlier in the week.

Evans announced that she was leaving to take a job in her home state of Pennsylvania, saying that she simply couldn’t get by on her $16,000 a season salary.

Kansas City will be frustrated that they couldn’t hold out for just four more minutes, finally conceding to Lynn Williams, who had a bit of good fortune when a late cross deflected to her as FCKC tried to hang on.

Lynn Williams got the game winner against the Courage (ISI Photos/Jane Gersovich)

Williams took her chance well and the Courage striker needed to, KC keeper Nicole Barnhart got a piece, but her fine night was ruined when he the shot crossed her goal line.

The Courage applied most of the pressure in this makeup game, the original was postponed for storms back on July 22. With an 11-5 record, the defending champs extended their lead at the top of the table to five points with Sunday’s 2-1 win in Seattle.

With second place on the line, the Portland Thorns traveled to Bridgeview, Illinois and emerged with a 3-2 victory to climb over the Red Stars in the league standings.

Meghan Klingenberg set up the game winner for Portland. (ISI Photos/Daniel Bartel)

The visitors jumped out to a 2-0 lead inside of 10 minutes on goals from Hayley Raso and Christine Sinclair only to allow the home team to equalize in the 38th minute on goals from Christen Press and Sofia Huerta.

The visitors claimed the spoils when Emily Sonnet headed home a fantastic free kick from Meghan Klingenberg for her second goal in as many matches.

With last place in the offing, neither team could put the other away despite a plethora of chances for each side to score a winner.

Adriana Leon scored a brace to help earn her team a point. (ISI Photos/Jose Argueta)

Estelle Johnson followed her own rebound to give the home side a sixth minute lead after some inattentive defending by the Breakers. Adriana Leon scored the first of her two goals just before the intermission, with Cheyna Williams ( Washington) and Leon trading second half goals to set up an exciting, if unproductive finish.

Spirit star Mal Pugh nearly broke the crossbar with her 83rd-minute blast, the first of a series of late chances that neither side could convert. Johnson headed a Pugh pass off the crossbar leading to a Boston counter attack that saw Rosie White miss wide under pressure from Spirit keeper Didi Haracic just before the final whistle.

Sam Mewis pair of goals was enough to help her team take all 3 points. (ISI Photos/Brad Smith)

First place North Carolina capped a two win week with a 2-1 win over the Reign on a visit to the Emerald City. A pair of goals from Sam Mewis was enough to earn the points for the Courage over Seattle, who answered with just one tally from Rumi Utsugi.

The Dash lost for the second match in a row following a six game unbeaten run which had inspired playoff talk in Houston. Those post-season hopes took a further hit when Carli Lloyd limped off the field in the 35th minute with an ankle problem.

Reports are that X-Rays came back negative, a positive for Houston, although the extent of the damage is not yet known.

Groom celebrating the only goal of the game. (ISI Photos/Wilf Thorne)

Kansas City scored the only goal of the game in the 83rd minute. Shea Groom’s game winner gave KC its first victory since May 27, and the shutout is the 36th of Nicole Barnhart’s career, a league record.

Barnhart also put in a strong effort in FCKC’s 1-0 loss on Thursday versus first place North Carolina. Maybe U.S. coach Jill Ellis should try and convince the former national teamer to reconsider her international retirement.

The United States, Mexico, and Canada will hope to keep the 2026 World Cup off of the Road to Morocco, as the African nation emerged as the only challenger to the three nation North American bid announced at the top of One World Trade Center amidst great fanfare in April.

Galati sounded confident in his statement. (ISI Photos/Mike Lawrence)

In a statement released today by U.S. Soccer, the organization’s President, Sunil Gulati, sounded confident in the three way bid.

“We’ve always been prepared for the fact that other countries could also decide to bid for the 2026 FIFA World Cup,” Gulati said. “Competition is good, and overall it shows the value and importance of the World Cup. We’re excited to prepare a bid that will demonstrate to FIFA that the first World Cup to be held in the CONCACAF region since 1994 should be awarded to Canada, Mexico, and the United States.”

Only Morocco and the United States met today’s filing deadline to be considered to host the 2026 games, now the two bidders have until March 16th to put their proposals in order. The U.S was burned in FIFA’s previous go round when the Americans lost out to Qatar, a development that shocked virtually all onlookers and left Gulati reluctant to bid again.

That experience may have encouraged the U.S.S.F. to join forces with their neighbors, although the Americans did consider going it alone.

With time being of the essence, Gulati sounds like a man determined not to get burned again, saying, “over the next eight months we’ve got a lot of work to do. The United Bid Committee has already started that work, and we will now go into full motion with our team in New York, in collaborations with our partners in Canada and Mexico.”

“Next week we will provide an update on the number of cities that are interested in being part of the World Cup in 2026 across all three countries,” Gulati continued, “and we’ll continue to put together a bid that will meet and exceed the final regulations and specifications required by FIFA.”

Gianni Infantino and co will surely see the appeal with the Trio’s bid. (ISI Photos/Kieran McManus)

Back in April the deal we wrote the following:

Under the deal worked out by the three federations 60 of the 80 matches at the 48 nation 2026 World Cup would be played in the United States, including all of the games from the quarterfinals onward.

Mexico and Canada would have 10 games each in the negotiated agreement, which all three federation Presidents signed at the end of Monday’s ceremony.

Speaking to a cluster of reporters after the official program Gulati indicated the U.S. had the upper hand in negotiations with their new partners, saying, “if we went alone we had the strongest bid.” The U.S. Soccer President admitted that “we considered bidding alone until very, very recently, even until about a month ago.”

Gulati sounded as confident in April as he did in today’s statement, saying then, “a World Cup in North America with 60 games in the United States will be by far the most successful World Cup in the history of FIFA in terms of economics.”